BILL NUMBER: S8265

SPONSOR: PHILLIPS
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public authorities law, in
relation to reporting on the metropolitan transportation authority's
state of good repair

 
PURPOSE:

To provide the public with information on the ETA's overall state of
good repair prior to the MTA's submission of an amendment to a five-year
capital plan.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill would add a new paragraph (c) to subdivision 7 of
section 163-c to the law which relates to the metropolitan transporta-
tion authority capital program plans, approvals, and effect of disap-
provals. The new paragraph would require the MTA, prior to submitting
and amendment to the capital plan, to make available on their website a
report outlining the repairs and investments needed to restore the
              

authority's existing transit systems to a state of good repair and
ensure the existing transit systems continue to deliver transportation
services safely and reliably for the metropolitan commuter transporta-
tion district. The report shall include the dollar amounts needed, as
well as the dollar amounts committed to restore the critical elements
within the transit systems including subway cars, buses, passenger
stations, tracks, line equipment, line structures, signals and communi-
cations, traction power, shops and yards, depots, service vehicles,
handicap accessibility, and any other elements that are critical to the
transit operations of the authority.

Section 2 of the bill sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The MTA implements five-year plans intended to bring their transporta-
tion and transit systems to a state of good repair and enhance or expand
other operations. However, the MTA consistently spends less than what is
required to keep their existing systems in a state of good repair while
simultaneously moving forward and committing funds to newer projects.
This spending habit compromises the reliability and safety within the
current systems. This legislation intends to address this demonstration
of fiscal irresponsibility within the authority by increasing transpar-
ency and shedding light on the fact that more funds should be committed
to the authority's existing systems before dedicating funds to newer
projects.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE:

None.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.